International Journal of Astrobiology

Table of Contents - October 2011 - Volume 10, Issue 04  

Research Article

Synthetic geomicrobiology: engineering microbe–mineral interactions for space exploration and settlement

Charles S. Cockella1

a1 Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK e-mail: c.s.cockell@open.ac.uk

Abstract

Synthetic geomicrobiology is a potentially new branch of synthetic biology that seeks to achieve improvements in microbe–mineral interactions for practical applications. In this paper, laboratory and field data are provided on three geomicrobiology challenges in space: (1) soil formation from extraterrestrial regolith by biological rock weathering and/or the use of regolith as life support system feedstock, (2) biological extraction of economically important elements from rocks (biomining) and (3) biological solidification of surfaces and dust control on other planetary surfaces. The use of synthetic or engineered organisms in these three applications is discussed. These three examples are used to extract general common principles that might be applied to the design of organisms used in synthetic geomicrobiology.

(Received February 18 2011)

(Accepted April 14 2011)

(Online publication May 27 2011)

Key words